The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-18

| ~ ,elo'euY9 W INC particular vouchers. Al
the law had been complied with In said ofhcs
| he would have answered these questions sat
isfacto.ily.
Another obstacle in cur way In examining
was the minsiing together In one voucher
work gone 70 dlnereat places, part payments
| Of the word estimate, though he stated that
no record had been kept Of the same.
except In the vouchers before mentioned.
1t YES impossible for US to make a thorough
and sausfac'ory examination, and ! think
that he himself knows very little about the Of
fce,as will be abe 70 explain hereafter. We
have been informed that Maj. Meriwether
| lot all these woi ks 10 the d fef emit contract
ors without submitting any OF them 10 the
Board Of Public Works Tor their approval.
When asked why he did OF leep his On %
In more Systematic manner, he stated tbs
he did not have the time to DO so, as his
whole time was taken mp in fcld work. Til,
is not 90. As you all are aware--beinx city
eng neer. receiving a salary, and g,ving q
bond a. such-he owes to the city hrst his
proof being furnished this grand jury that
he was the re.idont engineer Of some Of the
railroads leading into the city, and done sur
veying for another ROAD leading into this
city-the surveying was done both In this
city and across the river while for another
roao, which has many interests thst are In
conflict with the we'll management OF the
city; or, in other words, that the obeying Of
many laws OF the city government ara not to
tho interest Of any railroad. His namo APP
pears on the '-roll Of said company as
consulting engineer, at the salary OF Us per
month II 10 wise, in contracts with rail-
roads and other Corporations, to reserve the
right that oil work must DO lone
under tho supervision Of the city ems ineer:
hut that clau'e should not be so enfJrced
as to compel said railroads or other corpor-
atoms ~ employ MAJ. Meriweteer In or Ter
20 avoid any and all cor HI Is with the gcv-
eminent, and even II such corporations
were to make offers for his services he should
teius. 70 ss' ~ ;bn n sconn, o du ~
oath OF OF CO and bond as such official. lie
could thereby avoid all ent tng ements that
wou d arise from his otherwise dual capaeity
a, engineer for the city and tor the rail-
roads.
Since this examioati n berAn Mai. Meri-
wether has made a book showing the costs Of
streets and the amount Of curbtng laid, but
any accountant knows the ference be-
tween a book composed OF origiua entries
and one not made from said orisinsl entries,
and II there 10 a need or use now for said
book, whF has II not always existed.
Our attention was called especiall by
the honorable judge Of this court, 10 exam ne
tho costs OF streets, bridges etc., and as most
Of our time was .iyen TO tina! examination,
We will make reference to only such part VI
their biennial report as Affects those depart
ments and not others.
As will appear from page IS OF the disest,
the Lesi.lature OF 1855 levied tsx OF so cents
on each slD worth OF taxable property for
and construction Of sewers. drains aud san.
itary purposes.
In Reporting tho receipts and disburse-
ments In this PARTICULAR department thsIs
appears two separate Aeoounu; Why this
should be done AN at loss 10 know. unlsss
II was for the purposes Of knowing the exact
costa OF the sewers; bat the costs OF the
sewer. could have easily boon ascer-
tanned By reference to tho books
70 great credit for tho systematic manner In
which he keeps the cost and most minute
workings OF the sewer department. More
especially l. he emitted 20 that credit. q. hs
is associated AZ q SUD IN the once Of the City
Engineer. where eyerJ thing 10 kept In such
The report then proceeds with extracts
from the last report Of President dadden TO
the Governor and Legislature, show ng re-
ceipts and disbursements for streets, bridges
and sanitary AID tewers. showing that the
disburfements foot up $50, 1851; bat upon
an eIaminat n OF said accounts 10 will DO
seen that on the date Of the former report,
towit, May -. 1854. the ST. eet. bridges and
s%S G sssrss ' . GSf r.. ss a.;
rs. 2sl. Cd, making q total over
check Of Si,s26.s5. taken from the footin 60
Of ths disbursements, s7s,295 81, leaves a.
he s sss di' aS, t. ,sd aepsI,nsn,
pended before November 70, 1855.
The jafy. then taxes up for c.mpari-
sen, MAI Msriwotheris reports, IN brtei
a. follows; Total expenditures, t2t3, 800
dentals for paving streets and alleys. $50.
O2s 81. Exhibits g., II. and J., tabular
state ments, are g,yep. which foot up III,
total. ts51, 769 II, witch corresponds -ith Q,
L, PuIlen's.. Msj. Me-iwether, In order q
sS s S S a.. sbs iipsnsi.gTs 81 ~,
marks lt RIhibit U. which the jury oopiss a,
| pat Of Its report. Committesman shea
wades through tbe various exhibits ans dit
ierences betul en- the two io'Als, surmises
must have been taken from actual disburse
msnts by the IaIins District, and then say
| " l. not 90, boldly ttat ne that MAJ. Meri
wether forced his balance. "Dscause," ~
he says. " vouchers for work done ana ma
terials firnishsd before, MAY %, 1850
May, 1871. and ihsse vouchers arc 10
work done and set out IN Exhibit . 20 SAID
report. and form part OF the t357 100 II iait
20 have been expended In faid streets
from December I. issl. 70 November 30
1885, when In fact they bad not psen. pate
until log sitter tho date Of SAID 70
port, and cons quehui would In no Wis
he TART Of taid diabur'ement o. SSH
Tcs ~. as thoy had not b,sn rsid ior,
vouchers referred 70, Will foot al
tS3. 66l ". Mr.. bhea 9. ntinues! As thi
amount OF 81, COL 70 vai Tor vOtk ard mste
rails turnisked, " .ch are reported By Maj
not paid until sitsr November 10th, 1886. !
puIIles your oobmi. teeman 10 understand
hos Mai Mefrivothef makes bis aocount
balance with Mr.. Q. l.. Puilsn. lima. hor
ivsther va 70 shes ar afe1unt o
them In one Item, - the, should. and sho,
an over check Of 90. 800, a. Their should
IL another one Of the ms stories that canno
undsrstand, uLloss Il was 70 conceal the Tea
state Of Hairs.
materials furnished In the "a inner Of lss
should be allowed 20 remain unpaid unit
the months Of April ana May, 1881 aud the
overcheck the street. bridges, t.nitAry an
sewer account 10 the amount 800 ~
Il 1omethihg s'se that / cannot undsr,tand
The receipts from the street.. sahilsrJ
bridges aud sever eepartment from Jun
I, 1886. 10 June l, is7, vas sl2l ,llb 80, an
the s1penfos we're t1f,7b5.si, which " q
expenditure oits6.0iO2s In excess Of tho n
Proof hiss been made TO this grand Jur
and part Of The pfoof. by on, u the Com
misilonsrs Who hat had lens experiences !
such matters. that the charges Jor haulin
stone and srayel raid By tug city vere 81
csssiye and txhorbltabt, and AZ q fesult I
cur ipysstisations Mr.. y. Manblsan Il no
raid " per car for hauling sravel instsad
81 a. before.
Maj. MsriwstSer may say that this ebans
took place before our Investigation, but
doubt lti and for troof state that our invs,
tlsatIons we're from June 1885. Y June
1881, and dustng this time Mr.. y. MAnnisa
never submittsd q full bill. but was pal
part payment on the sane that after '
had sIamIned Mr. Pullen's once and vel
sxamiping Maj, M.rivsthsf's one J
showed ui q bill Of y. ManniEen's q
SsgR2 for hauling, upon which vouchers II
1S, II 9ib aud 1899 were 10 be ere Ilts'
naking 500, and also the subscription fro
81. Paul street ~ tistl, snd from Wsllinl
ton street Of $40, laakibg total credits
S7sli, leaving q baiApce stu due and 4
mainlrg unpaid on Juns l, 1851, Of Sis
and | do rot know whether IL has yet be-
This s,stsmsnt or bill haylaE not be,
. presented before June !, ISL, u did q
|. come undor our invsatiga tonl but
showed In lsnsth where the E.aytl "
. haulsdt and Mr.. y. dannisan's mem
Tanda Of hauling gravel was anoth
! .,sci.. ~ Nal MaTl,ethsf's eYstem